For nearly 160 years, the Gorham Manufacturing Company turned out a wide range of beautiful silver flatware, tea sets, serving bowls and other silver pieces, indelibly influencing the field of decorative arts in ways that still resonate.
When silversmiths Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster started making coin silver teaspoons and jewelry out of a small workshop in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1831, the pair likely had no idea that their modest operation would one day become the largest silver manufacturer in the world.
While some name changes and personnel shifts preceded the foundry officially being established as Gorham Manufacturing Company decades later, growth of the business between its early days and the mid–19th century can largely be attributed to the work of Jabez’s son John, who assumed control of Gorham in the 1840s.
John Gorham introduced steam power at the manufactory. He entered into a partnership with Michael Gibney, the first American silversmith to register a design patent for a flatware pattern. Gorham wanted to expand the business, seeking to produce forks and spoons adorned with decorative flourishes adapted from British patterns. The company hammered out the silver flatware, which it sent to Gibney in New York to apply decorative patterns before returning to Gorham. Consequently, Gorham found Gibney’s work unsatisfactory, and he purchased his own rolling press to do the work himself.
The partnership between John and Michael soured but the company thrived. Sales grew to more than $20,000 per year, and the staff of silversmiths expanded. To keep up with demand, Gorham had to retire its horse-powered rolling press and import a steam-powered drop press from England — the first used in the United States. Designs created at Gorham drew on natural-world motifs as well as artistic traditions from all over the world — alongside its tableware, the company would soon be producing cups and pitchers adorned with polar bears and forest creatures, while tea services and other serving pieces were crafted in a range of styles that included Art Nouveau, Egyptian Revival and Rococo.
Around 1860, Gorham delved into bronze casting. When it opened a division dedicated to bronze work, Gorham collaborated with sculptors such as Daniel Chester French, Anna Hyatt Huntington and Alexander P. Proctor.
By the 1920s, Gorham had employed thousands of workers and had partnered with Danish modernist silversmith Erik Magnussen. However, the Great Depression ground production to a halt. The company was sold to Textron, Inc. in the late 1960s and it changed hands several times before it sold to Department 56 in 2005.
Today, the work of Gorham Manufacturing Company continues to be exhibited in galleries and museums. The RISD Museum in Providence houses a collection of nearly 5,000 works.
On 1stDibs, find a range of antique Gorham Manufacturing Company serveware and decorative objects.
Edgemont Gold by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 35 Pieces Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Dinner size estate edgemont gold by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 35 pieces. This set includes: Eight dinner size knives, 9 3/8" Eight dinner size forks, 7 3/4" Eight salad ...
Sterling Silver
Edgemont Gold by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set For 12 Service 54 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Edgemont gold by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 54 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4" 12 forks, 7 3/4" 12 salad forks, 6 1/2" 12 teaspoons, 5 7/8" One serving spoon...
Sterling Silver
Edgemont Gold by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 38 Pieces Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Edgemont gold by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 38 pieces. This set includes: eight dinner size knives, 9 3/8", eight dinner size forks, 7 3/4", eight salad forks, 6 1/2",...
Sterling Silver
Edgemont by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 60 pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Issued in 1987, Edgemont by Gorham has symmetrical flutes that adorn the end of the flatware, flaring in an unmistakable pattern. Edgemont by Gorham sterling silver Flatware set, 60...
Sterling Silver
Edgemont by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 50 Pcs Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Originally issued in 1987, Edgemont by Gorham has symmetrical flutes that adorn the end of the flatware, flaring in an unmistakable pattern. Dinner size Edgemont by Gorham sterling ...
Sterling Silver
Edgemont Gold by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set For 12 Service 52 pc Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Originally issued in 1987, Edgemont Gold by Gorham has symmetrical flutes that adorn the end of the flatware, flaring in an unmistakable pattern. Edgemont Gold Accent by Gorham St...
Sterling Silver
Gorham Sterling Silver Thirty-Six Piece Part Flatware Service
By Gorham
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gorham Sterling Silver Thirty-Six Piece Part Flatware Service Marked, in the Etruscan Pattern, most monogramed with a Y. Comprising, seven dinner forks, eight salad forks, twelve bu...
Silver
Extensive Gorham Sterling Silver Three-Hundred Twenty-Two Piece Flatware Service
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Extensive Gorham Sterling Silver Three-Hundred Twenty-Two Piece Flatware Service, Buckingham Pattern. Marked. Assembled, some with the etched initial M. Comprising, 24 dinner kniv...
Silver
Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Fifty-Nine Piece Flatware Service
By Reed & Barton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Fifty-Nine Piece Flatware Service Marked Reed and Barton, Sterling. Comprising, twelve dinner knives, eleven butter spreads, twelve dinner forks, twel...
Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Set by William Eaton, 65 Pieces
By William Eaton
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver straight Albert pattern flatware service for twelve persons made by William Eaton; an addition to our canteen of cutlery collection The pieces of this exceptional, antique Victorian sterling silver straight* flatware service for 12 persons have been crafted in the Albert pattern. The anterior and posterior surfaces of each rococo inspired, King's shape handle are embellished with scrolling leaf ornamentation. The decoration to the anterior of each handle terminal incorporates a contemporary bright cut engraved crest depicting out of a mural crown a spear in pale and two palm branches in saltire**. The heel and shoulders of each piece are embellished with further scrolling decoration. This silver flatware service for 12 persons consists of 65 pieces: Basic Service: 12 Table forks 12 Table spoons 12 Dessert forks 12 Dessert spoons 12 Teaspoons Additional Pieces: Pair of sauce ladles Pair of salt spoons...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Flatware Set, Military Pattern by George Adams
By George Adams
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique English sterling silver straight Military Thread & Shell pattern flatware service made by George Adams; an addition to our flatware collection. The pieces of this exceptional, antique Victorian straight sterling silver canteen of cutlery has been crafted in the Military Thread and Shell pattern. The surface of each handle is embellished with a paralleling thread decorated border accented with a shell design to the terminal. The reverse of each spoon bowl is ornamented with a thread decorated rounded heel. This Military Thread and Shell pattern cutlery set consists of 109 pieces: Basic service 18 table forks 18 table spoons 24 dessert forks 23 dessert spoons 21 teaspoons Additional pieces Soup ladle Pair of serving spoons Runcible/serving spoon Caddy spoon The pieces of this service have been crafted by the collectable, renowned silversmith and flatware maker George Adams of Chawner & Co in 1863; eleven of the dessert spoons bear a subtly different size to the remaining twelve, this does not detract from the service. This antique flatware service is supplied in felt cutlery rolls; which not only protect the items in storage but significantly reduces tarnishing. Note: Due to the nature of this service it can be determined it was made for military use. Each piece would have been embellished with an engraved crest which has since been removed; there remains minor signs of the engraving to some pieces. "Straight" means all the pieces are made by the same maker in the same year. Condition This thread and shell pattern cutlery set is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. Each piece has been professionally polished and is in presentation condition. The pattern decoration has sympathetic wear in keeping with age and use. Each piece shows minor signs of an erased engraved crest. Full hallmarks struck to the reverse of each piece are all very clear; there is some wear to some marks, in keeping with age. Dimensions Table fork 21cm/8.3" Table spoon 22.2cm/8.7" Dessert fork 18cm/7.1" Dessert spoon 17.5cm/6.9" Teaspoon 14.9cm/5.9" Soup ladle 33.8cm/13.3" Serving spoon 29.2cm/11.5" Runcible spoon...
Sterling Silver
1847 Rogers Bros. Silverplate Flatware Set, Service for 6, 52 Pieces
By 1847 Rogers Bros.
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
This 1847 Rogers Bros. flatware service is presented in the “Heraldic” pattern, first introduced in 1916 and recognized for its distinctive Arts & Crafts–influenced design. The p...
Silver Plate
